Lot's Ait

Lot's Ait is an island in the River Thames in England. It is on the Tideway near Brentford, and its size is approximately 51,000 sq.ft.

Lot's Ait is often grouped with the adjacent Brentford Ait. It was formerly used for the growing of grass and osiers: basket willows, used for basketry, furniture, and cart-making, as well as cattle fodder. It was once known as Barbel Island, as this was a particularly fruitful area for fishing. It contained a yard where barges were repaired until 1980, when it was sold. It acquired a wild character with naturalised willows, rotting boats and rusting dock roofs and became a haven for wildlife. In 2002, the island was offered for sale with outline planning permission for a restaurant, a leisure facility and boat storage. It is only accessible by boat and the nearest road is Goats Wharf, Brentford.

ee also

*Islands in the River Thames

References

* [http://www.brentford-dock.net/archive/2002-8.asp Brentford Dock News, August 2002]
* Leigh Hatts "The Thames Path: From the Sea to the Source", 2005, Cicerone Press, ISBN 1852844361
* [http://www.portoflondon.co.uk/pdfs/maritime/U10_2006_chartlet_Syon_and_Mortlakepdf.pdf Port of London Authority map]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22557 Chiswick: Introduction', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982)]

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